The Parable of the Parent and the Referee

One day while teaching, Josh was asked, ”Teacher, when an act of political violence is not about inflicting injury or causing death to an enemy, what could its purpose be?”

Josh spoke thus:

A parent watching a sporting event was furious at the match referee.

“How can you make that call?” the parent shouted at the referee.  The referee did not respond to the parent.

“You should try watching the game, ref!” the parent shouted, “You’re missing a good game!”  The referee did not respond.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” the parent shouted, “You’re going to call that a foul now?  For one team it’s a foul, for the other team it’s not?  How can you justify that?  The other team did it and it was fine, and now it’s a foul?  Give me a break!”  The referee did not respond.

“Where’s the whistle now?” the parent shouted, “You brought your whistle, and you mean to use it, except when it’s time to make the right call!  Where’s the call, ref?  Blow your whistle, ref!”  The referee did not respond.

“Did anyone ever give you a rulebook?” the parent shouted, “Here!  Here!  I’ve got a rulebook for you, ref!  Want my rule book, ref?”  The parent pantomimed holding a rulebook in the air and then pretended to toss the imaginary rulebook at the referee.  The referee did not respond.

“Hey ref!” the parent shouted, “The home for blind people called!  They said it’s time for you to go home!”

The person to the right of the parent turned to the parent and said, “Give it a rest, will you?”

The person on the parent’s left said, “The ref isn’t even listening to you.”

The person on the right said, “The ref can’t even hear you.”

The person on the left said, “You’re shouting at the television.  You’re not even shouting at the ref.”

The person on the right asked, “What’s your problem with the referee anyway?”

The person on the left said, “I haven’t seen any bad calls.”

The person on the right said, “The ref is doing a pretty job, actually.”

“The ref is doing an excellent job,” the parent said.

“Then why are you shouting at the ref?” the person on the left asked.

“That ref is my kid!” the parent said.

“So why are you shouting?” the person on the left asked.

“Are you mad at the ref?” the parent asked.

“Of course not,” the person on the left said.

“We weren’t even watching the game,” the person on the right said.

“And now you are!” the parent said.